Poker game

ABSTRACT

In a poker game, two or more players play against the house, each player placing a first bet to enter the game. Two cards are then dealt face-down to each player and two cards are dealt face-down to the house. Three common cards are then dealt face-up. If the player decides to continue with the game on the basis of the two cards dealt face-down to him and the three cards dealt face-up, he then places a further “call” bet. Two further common cards are then dealt face-up. The game is decided by comparing the best hand of five cards from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards, the higher ranking poker hand winning.

[0001] The present invention relates to a casino house game which is avariant of five card stud poker.

[0002] Stud poker is a popular game, in casinos and the game has beenadapted over the years to evolve new variants such as “Hold'em” and“Omaha”. Hitherto, with such games and variants, the player playsagainst fellow players, rather than the casino.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,025 discloses a variant of stud poker inwhich three or more hands are dealt and the players are able to bet onwhichever of the hands they believe will win.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a method of playing a poker gamein which each player plays against a dealer.

[0005] This game requires a certain degree of skill and decision makingwhich in turn makes the game challenging and interesting.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method ofplaying a poker game comprises the steps of:

[0007] dealing two cards face-down to a player and two cards face-downto the house;

[0008] dealing three common cards face-up;

[0009] if the player decides to continue with the hand dealt to him,dealing two further common cards face-up; and

[0010] comparing hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt tothe player and the five common cards, with the two cards dealt to thehouse and five common cards, to decide the winner of the game.

[0011] According to the preferred embodiment of the game, the player isrequired to place a bet before being dealt two cards face-down. Theplayer is then preferably required to place a further bet to indicatethat he wishes to proceed with the game, before the final two commoncards are dealt.

[0012] The result of the game is decided on the conventional ranking ofpoker hands. If however the house's hand is below a predeterminedminimum value, the house forfeits the game, paying out on the player'sinitial bet.

[0013] The minimum qualifying hand for the house may be of any specifiedrank, but will typically be a pair of fours.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the game, if the playerwins, the house would pay out odds, at least on the player's initialbet, depending on the rank of the player's hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates the layout of a gamingtable cloth, before the play, the player places a bet in the box 1,marked “ante”. The dealer, on behalf of the house, then deals two cardsto each player and two cards to himself. All cards are dealt face-down.

[0016] The dealer then deals three common “community” cards face-up inthe middle of the table, in the box 2 qmarked “flop”.

[0017] If the players decide to continue with the game, then they placea bet, of double their initial bet, in the box 3 marked “call”.Alternatively, the player may pass their hand and lose their “ante” bet.

[0018] Two further cards are then dealt face-up in box 2.

[0019] Each player then selects five cards from the two dealt to him andthe five cards in the “flop” to achieve the best poker hand on the basisof the conventional poker ranking.

Poker Ranking

[0020] Hand Example Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 (suited) Straight Flush7, 8, 9, 10, J (suited) Four of a Kind 3, 3, 3, 3, K Full House 7, 7, 7,Q, Q Straight 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (unsuited) Three of a Kind 10, 10, 10, 7, 3Two Pair A, A, 7, 7, J One Pair 5, 5, K, J, 7 High Card in Hand A, K, 7,5, 3 (unsuited)

[0021] The players best poker hand is then compared with the best pokerhand made up from the two cards dealt face-down to the dealer and fivecards in the “flop” to decide the winner.

[0022] If however the dealer's hand is lower than a pair of fours, hefails to qualify and pays the “ante” bets of all the players who arestill in the game.

[0023] If the dealer's hand is a pair of fours or better and he loses toa player then he pays the player's “ante” and “call” bets at even money.If however the dealer's hand is higher than the player's hand then hetakes both the player's “ante” and “call” bets.

[0024] In a variation of the game, if the player's hand is better thanthe dealer's hand, the house will pay odds on the players “ante” bet,for example, on the basis of the following lists. Odds Hand Version 1Version 2 Version 3 Straight Flush 20 to 1 20 to 1 50 to 1 Four of aKind 10 to 1  5 to 1 20 to 1 Full House  3 to 1  3 to 1  2 to 1 Flush  2to 1  2 to 1  6 to 4

[0025] While in the accompanying drawing five positions are provided forplayers, any number of players may play the game, each player playingagainst the dealer.

[0026] The above described game may also be adapted for Internetentertainment and video slot machines. It could furthermore be stored ona disk and played on a computer or interactive television.

1. A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of: dealing twocards face-down to a player and two cards facedown to the house; dealingthree common cards face-up; if the player decides to continue with hishand, dealing two further cards face-up; and comparing hands of fivecards made up from the two cards deal to the player and the five commoncards with the two cards dealt to the house and the five common cards,to decide the winner of the game.
 2. A method according to claim 1 inwhich the player is required to place a bet before being dealt two cardsface-down.
 3. A method according to claim 2 in which the player isrequired to place a further bet before the final two common cards aredealt.
 4. A method according to claim 1 in which the hands are comparedon the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.
 5. A methodaccording to claim 1 in which if the house's hand is below apredetermined value the house forfeits the game.
 6. A method accordingto claim 5 in which if the house's hand is below a pair of fours, thehouse forfeits the game.
 7. A method according to claim 1 in which ifthe player wins, the house pays odds depending on the rank of theplayer's hand.
 8. A method according to claim 7 in which if the playerwins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of aKind 10 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


9. A method according to claim 7 in which if the player wins, the housepays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind  5 to 1 FullHouse  3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


10. A method according to claim 7 in which if the player wins, the housepays odds as follows: Straight Flush 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 FullHouse  2 to 1 Flush  6 to
 4.


11. A method of playing a poker game according to claim 1 in which oneor more players may play against the house.
 12. A method of playing apoker game comprising the steps of: a player placing a first bet; adealer dealing two cards face-down to the player and two cards face-downto the dealer; the dealer also dealing three common cards face-up; theplayer placing a second bet if he wishes to continue or forgoing hisfirst bet if he does not wish to continue; upon placement of the secondbet, the dealer dealing two further common cards face-up; and comparingthe hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the playerand five common cards with the two cards dealt to the dealer and fivecommon cards, to decide the winner of the game, the player losing hisfirst and second bets if the dealer wins and the dealer paying out onthe first and second bets if the player wins.
 13. A method according toclaim 12 in which the hands are compared on the basis of theconventional ranking of poker hands.
 14. A method according to claim 12in which if the dealer's hand is below a predetermined value he forfeitsthe game and pays out on the player's first bet only.
 15. A methodaccording to claim 12 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays oddsdepending on the rank of the player's hand.
 16. A method according toclaim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush 2 to
 1.


17. A method according to claim 15 in which if the player wins, thedealer pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind  5 to1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush  2 to
 1.


18. A method according to claim 15 in which if the player wins, thedealer pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to1 Full House  2 to 1 Flush  6 to 4.